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Years 5 & 6 IMP Ukulele in Schools

Uke 2025

Years 5 & 6 IMP Ukulele in Schools

The ACT Instrumental Music Program provides group instruction on ukulele to students in Years 5 and 6 at participating primary schools. This particular program of instruction currently operates in three of Canberra’s 56 public primary schools and is designed to supplement the music education of students in Years 5 and 6. It is not the intention or purpose of the Instrumental Music Program to be the sole provider of any student’s music education.

IMP staff are qualified ACT Education Directorate teachers employed under the same conditions as teachers in ACT public schools. All IMP teachers hold qualifications in music and/or education and have experience in instrumental music performance and pedagogy.

Each ukulele band will be supported by a teacher from the school. This teacher is called a School-Based Teacher (SBT) and is integral to the success of the group. The SBT is the first point of contact for parents/carers for ukulele band-related matters. The SBT also facilitates performance opportunities within the school.

While musical terminology is presented and used with students, and students are taught to read chord symbols and tablature, this program generally does not include the teaching and learning of formal music notation.

Singing is an integral part of the ukulele bands. Students are expected to sing along while playing their ukuleles. All skill levels and voice types are welcome, and no prior singing experience is required. Repertoire includes a wide range of popular genres including pop, rock, folk and music theatre.

At regular intervals throughout the year (usually once per term), ukulele bands from different schools will combine to rehearse together. This provides students with the opportunity to play and perform as part of a larger ensemble.

Student Selection

Participation in the IMP ukulele program is a two-year commitment, and the only point of entry is the beginning of Year 5. Students are expected to remain in the class for the full two years. Families are asked to consider this commitment carefully before accepting or declining an offer of place. Once the Year 5 program has begun, students cannot be ‘recruited’ to join the program to replace students who have left.

A four-step selection process is undertaken by school staff and the IMP teacher assigned to that school.

  1. Year 4 classroom teachers make a professional evaluation of attributes and skills in four key areas for all students. All four areas – Individual Learning Habits, Collaborative Skills, Reading Proficiency and Independent Learning at Home – are of equal importance and have been shown in evidence-based research to contribute to success in instrumental music learning in group settings.
  2. An aural skills activity is administered by an IMP teacher to ALL Year 4 students. The activity does not rely on previous musical experience or knowledge and is designed to determine each student’s ability to differentiate between sounds of notes, melodies and rhythms.
  3. The IMP teacher will collate all student information as above and pass this on to the School-Based Teacher at each school.
  4. This information will be considered collaboratively by a team of school staff, who will select up to 26 students who will be provided with offers of membership in the IMP school ukulele program. Families who don’t wish to accept their offer are welcome to decline.

Please note that at some schools, this selection process may not apply, as all students in the year group may automatically be included in the ukulele program. This depends on the needs and size of the school.

Resources Provided

Students accepting a place in the Year 5 Ukulele Band at their school will be provided with a ukulele. This ukulele is the property of the student and does not need to be returned to the school upon completion of the program. Students will also receive all required printed music. Parents/carers are welcome to purchase instruments for their students if desired, but there will be no reduction in IMP fees payable. Students who misplace or damage their instruments may be asked to purchase another instrument from the IMP. Please note that at most schools, students will be required to take their ukuleles home between lessons.

Students will receive two group sessions per week with an IMP teacher. Typically, these sessions total 1.5 hours per week per group, but this may vary slightly depending on school timetables.

Cost

There is a cost associated with participation in the IMP ukulele program. This is set by the IMP and is charged to each school in Term 1 each year. Each school will determine how to pass this cost on to families and will provide this information to families along with the offers of place. The IMP does not charge families directly. The fees paid by schools and families is a contribution only and is not reflective of the true costs of the provision of this program to students.

Parent/Carer Support

Parents/carers can support their developing musicians by:

Benefits of Instrumental Music Learning

The benefits of instrumental music learning are well-documented and tend to outweigh any challenges presented by withdrawal from other lessons. If applicable, parents/carers are advised to contact their child’s school with any questions about how their student’s learning schedule may be affected by withdrawal for ukulele classes.

Private Instrumental Music Lessons

Students in Years 5 and 6 ukulele bands are not required to take private ukulele lessons. It can be confusing and stressful for young students to receive regular instruction from several different teachers. In addition, it is desirable that students within any particular school group are working at a similar level. It is also not the aim of the IMP to remove the livelihood of private instrumental tutors.

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